Revenge act on Wessex tastes sweet for OPMs

Wessex…13 OPMs…51

OPMs got off the mark and even with the team which beat them to the Devon One title last season.

And, more importantly, clawed their way out of the division's bottom two with their first Cornwall-Devon League victory of the season.

The city team's list of tries began with a touch down by the imposing Ed Stevens, following a successful penalty by Gavin Rea.

Number two was via a three-yard dash by irresistible second-rower Matt Glastonbury, who is playing with a back injury which is likely to ping at any time.

The third try was courtesy of number 10 Jake Luffman, which was set up adroitly by full-back Martin Skelly.

Wessex replied with two penalties either side of the break, but Skelly scored his side's fourth as a reward for his selfless running throughout the match.

Luffman scored again when his own kick-off, after a try by the hosts, somehow found its way back into his arms, and he went in under the posts.

Wessex made the fifth try for the visitors by dropping the ball in midfield.

OPMs' Chris Harmer scooped it up and zipped in for a touchdown.

Rea, who had started the whole thing off with his penalty, finished the day with 21 points.

He scored three penalties and six conversions.

OPMs' assistant head coach Steve Luffman said afterwards: "It was a great performance and a great day. They have a big pack and last season, they pushed us around a bit.

"On Saturday, we nullified them. The good thing is we still have two guys to come into the team and, hopefully, this result is the start of our season."

Teignmouth…67 Plymouth Barbarians…0

BARBS' chairman Roger Jewell is confident the city side will get it right, despite this hefty defeat at title-chasing Teignmouth.

Jewell said: "I don't like making excuses, but we had to make late changes for the fourth week running.

"The coaches are working hard and I'm confident we can get it right.

"It's not that our players haven't got the ability, because they have, but we're lacking continuity at the moment."

Jewell picked three players whom he described as outstanding – Sam Laskey, Aaron Carpenter and Steve Hammond.

Laskey, however, was taken off after suffering a knee injury.

St Ives...71 Saltash...7

SALTASH suffered their first league defeat of 2012 when they were hammered by title rivals St Ives.

Last season's Cornwall One champions were always second best as St Ives had the bonus point for scoring four tries in the bag before half-time.

Saltash's only points came from a try and conversion from former Plymouth Albion player Max Venables.

Despite the defeat, Saltash remain in the top five with four wins out of five since their promotion.

Falmouth...43 Liskeard-Looe...10

LISKEARD-LOOE are still looking for their first win of the season after going down to high-flying Falmouth.

Gareth Cook and Baz Hocking scored consolation tries for the Lions against a Falmouth team that have now won four out of five games this season.